Trusting Your Instincts, Learning as You Go & Creating a Brand That Lasts with Kadi Lee, Co-Founder of Highbrow Hippie

Kadi Lee is a celebrity hair colorist and the co-founder of
Highbrow Hippie, a luxury beauty and wellness brand rooted in
clean ingredients, intentional rituals, and timeless beauty.


Growing up in a small town outside New York, Kadi learned to care
for her own textured hair at just eleven, sparking a passion for
beauty that would shape her life. That passion took her from a
college side hustle to training at Aveda and working in some of
New York City’s top salons. In 2019, she and her longtime friend
Myka Harris brought that experience to Venice Beach, launching
Highbrow Hippie — a beauty and wellness destination that embodies
clean living and a laid-back California vibe, which we’re going
to talk all about today. She’s become a go-to for celebrity
clients from Julia Roberts to Meghan Markle to Gwyneth Paltrow.


In today’s episode, you’ll hear how Kadi built Highbrow Hippie
from the ground up, learning every part of running a business
completely from scratch. She went from figuring out fundraising
to creating products with zero prior experience — all while
trusting her instincts at every turn. We talk about how her early
life shaped her independence, the hustle that led to her first
big break, and the leap of faith it took to launch a luxury
beauty brand in the middle of a global pandemic. Kadi shares
powerful lessons on financial literacy, learning to delegate, and
staying clear on your vision when the path forward feels
uncertain. She also opens up about the emotional rollercoaster of
building a business, the moments she almost walked away, and the
support that helped her push through. If you’ve ever dreamed of
starting something from nothing, Kadi’s story will inspire you to
take the leap.


In this episode, we’ll talk to Kadi about:


* How Kadi’s upbringing shaped her independence. [02:33]


* Early jobs and discovering her passion for hair. [06:26]


* Kadi’s first big break in the industry. [09:57]


* The inspiration behind Highbrow Hippie. [11:10]


* Navigating the challenges of starting a business during a
pandemic. [21:08]


* Trusting your gut when making big business decisions. [24:01]


* Why financial literacy is essential for entrepreneurs. [32:00]


* Brand vision and the power of visualization. [38:17]


* From product iteration to their first official launch. [37:09]


* Navigating product development. [39:45]


* Lessons from joining an accelerator and raising capital.
[45:43]


* The emotional impact of receiving support from clients and
community. [50:44]


* How perseverance and hard work lead to lasting success. [55:46]


This episode is brought to you by beeya: 


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Get 15% off Highbrow Hippie Haircare & Wellness with code
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Follow Kadi: 


* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/highbrowhippie/


* Website: https://highbrowhippie.com/


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